HELP PLEASE 3 years old and 4 beds destroyed

[starshaker]

I have 3 year old twins. So far between them they have broken 4 beds. I dont know what to do, I cant keep buying beds i just cant afford it. Please help

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pink-metal-single-bed-frame-/281379831163?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Beds&hash=item41838b7d7b

mine are like this in white

Star shaker you need to disicpline them or at least try ....or its going to happen again and again isn't it?

So you i guess know what works with them as you say they are well behaved most of the time .....so action it , naughty step, no bedtime story, you need to do whatever it takes so maybe mattresses on the floor ( which you don't like) might have to be the way to go until they learn to respect the furniture.

My DTS can do climbing walls that my 9 year old struggles with. We also have nowhere for a trampoline. We are in a small village and there are no clubs (think gymnastics would suit DTD to a t). Think i will just remove beds until they understand its just not on. Now i just need to find a way that they stop climbing onto the windowsill and jump onto mattresses

If it's at Bedtime I would sit on the edge of one bed until both are asleep so you can keep an eye on them

Surely it's the same as anything. Baby climbs up stairs, you say no, remove, and explain it's not safe. Repeat. Same with anything. No need to hit or shout. At their age they should be able to understand the rules and expectations

' the beds are only for sleeping or reading on, if you want to jump during the day you need to tell me and we can go outside to park were jumping is allowed'.

I would explain to them about respecting their things, the cost of replacing etc also

Yes I have a jumper she is far better now after she jumped to swing on the washing line and it broke . We removed all cushions from the sofa she was banned for even sitting on there for a while.

Nilby - I think its common where ever you have 2 DC close in age who love to play up when over tired.
Star the metal beds look great and last - for under £80 they are worth the investment. I know DC who still do it age 6+

Can you take them out after dinner each eve to climb some trees or run about/ long walk so not so much energy at bedtime then?

I wouldn't let in bedroom if they climb on windowsill, what if they fall through the glass on day? If there's no other area in house to play, they will have to just play at table or read on sofa a few days until they have learnt what you have said that any climbing means fun playtime is over

Agree with Artandco, if it's just at bedtime, sit in the room with them until they are asleep until they learn bedtime is for sleeping.

Just remembered that 2 of my brothers were a bit like this for a while. My parents got these (or at least the 1970s version) so that beds were just for bedtime and they has more playspace in the daytime:

www.wallbedking.co.uk/wallbeds

We do go out most days after dinner. I do everything i can to wear them out but they are like Duracell bunnies they just keep on going. They have unendless energy. Ive tried sitting in their room till they go to sleep. I was still waiting at midnight. When they go to bed it it the only time i get to myself. Now that the nursery is on holiday i dont get any free time for housework, appointments or anything else. I will try no beds for a while and hopefully it will help

Do they have a trampoline in the garden, OP?

I let mine take the cushions off the sofa and jump on them on the floor, seems to get rid of the need to bounce. They are categorically not allowed to jump on their beds of the cushions when they are on the sofa.

I would go for mattresses on the floor, don't feel like you're depriving them, we all sleep like that out of preference!

No we dont have a trampoline, not enough room for 1

starshaker, what about an indoor mini trampoline? We bought one for DD1 when she was 5 and showed a tendency to bounce on her little sister's bed.

www.amazon.co.uk/Bodymax-inch-Trampoline-Large-101-5cm/dp/B000LAVV16/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top/275-5537278-1885912

The legs can be unscrewed when it's not in use and then it rests flat against a wall, so it's very good for small spaces. I think if you bought that as well as two mattresses they'll get the message, because the trampoline is just so much better for bouncing in. Then when they've proved that they can be trusted not to bounce on beds you can make a big thing of getting them 'big boys' beds which are only for grown-up boys who know that you jump on trampolines not beds (repeat this message again and again).

Can you stagger bed times? Alternate who goes first?

Or put one in your bed and one in their room.

Bunk beds may help as they won't be able to jump on them.

Either that or mattress on floor

Wow. My lot would only jump from the window sill once and there'd be big words exchanged (as I'm sure there are in your house). They could fall backwards and out of the window apart from anything else.

I don't have twins, but mine all get a bit hyper at bedtime - good luck OP

Do you/How do you discipline them when they do it?

They need to know it's not allowed and that there will be consequences if they do it.

Is it just that the headboards have detached from the rest of the frame?

If so could you get two blocks of wood per bed and fix them inside the broken joints. Screw through the side support bar into the block and headboard into the block in two or three places from the side and the same from the headboard. It would create a much stronger joint. Ultimately you may need to do the same at the footboard end.

Ikea do quite cheap sets of bed slats. If you have somewhere you could store them you could just replace individual slats as required.

My eldest is Autistic and we do significant repairs on all sorts of furniture (often).

Would books on the windowsill, or screwing down some bars of wood and screw picture frames to them (minus glass) with photos or favorite images in, stop it being a nice big platform to jump off.
I've always fancied one of these for DS2 who's a bundle of energy.

Have you thought about a futon? No headboards and much closer to the ground (so less exciting to jump on) but still like a bed rather than a mattress on the floor.

I explain they could really hurt themselves, i take away bedtime stories, treats, toys, ive shouted. Ive moved the beds into the middle of the floor and they move them back. I have tried extra stories as a bribe for them to stay in bed. I dont know what else i can do.

Books on the windowsill dont work either they just move them.

I don't know if it would help but we are currently running star charts for staying in bed, closing your eyes, lying quietly and going to sleep! We got bunk beds and have had issues with the dc getting hyper when they go bed, one climbing up to the other, talking bouncing around etc.

They get the talk when they are going to bed reminding them what they have to do and then I remind them I'll be checking them in 3m...

Working fairly well but I suspect your issue is more entrenched as our kids don't play upstairs generally. They are jumpers tho so I do sympathise...

Star, nothing to add except I feel your pain. Mine do the same. Stuff on sills makes no difference as they just throw it off. We have had some success with sticker charts for good bed time behaviour but they are not fussed about earning them much of the time. Keeping them deprecate helps but it tends to be when we go upstairs for bath - while we run the bath and get ready, they go loopy